Developmental Trajectories of Attention in Normal Korean Population

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the trajectory of change of diverse attention and working memory in Koreans from 4 to 40 years of age. METHODS: The data of 912 subjects from 4 to 15 years of age obtained from a previous standardization study of the computerized comprehensive attention test were merged with the newly obtained data of 150 subjects aged 16 to 40 years from this study. We evaluated the various kinds of attention, in which each subtest had five indicators. Working memory, with parameters such as number of correct responses and span, was also measured. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that attention developed as age increased, and it decreased or was maintained after a certain age. Selective and sustained attention developed rapidly in children and adolescents, until mid-teens or 20 s when it ceased development. Divided attention, however, developed up to approximately age 20. In addition, working memory developed until mid-teens or 20 s. CONCLUSION: We presented the standardized data on diverse kinds of attention and working memory in children, adolescents, and adults in Korea. We could recognize any patterns of change in attention and working memory with increasing age.

Effect of Computerized Neuropsychologic Test in Subacute Post-Stroke Patient With Cognitive Impairment / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of Computerized Neuropsychologic Test (CNT) on cognitive function and daily life performance in subacute post-stroke patients with cognitive impairment. METHODS: Korean Mini-Mentals State Examination (K-MMSE), Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) were investigated in 125 subacute post-stroke patients with cognitive impairment. We analyzed K-MMSE and K-MBI which were conducted 63 patients who had received CNT and 62 patient who had not received CNT from baseline to 8 weeks follow-up. In the experimental group, initial K-MMSE and K-MBI were conducted 13.3 ± 6.8 weeks after the onset of stroke and their age was 63.4 ± 13.3. In the control group, initial K-MMSE and K-MBI were conducted 13.2 ± 7.7 weeks after the onset of stroke and their age was 65.1 ± 11.6. RESULTS: The 8 weeks follow-up total K-MMSE score and total K-MBI score of experimental group were significantly higher than control group (P 0.05). In K-MMSE subsection, change of orientation, registration, language and visual reconstruction were correlated with total K-MBI s core after CNT. Especially, the experimental group, total K-MBI score of the left hemisphere damage group was significantly higher than the right hemisphere damage group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that CNT is effective on subacute post-stroke patients with cognitive impairment. Improvement of cognitive function can expect a positive outcome on daily life performance, in particular, it can be expected to improve the prognosis of patients with stroke, the left hemisphere lesions.

Cognitive changes in amnestic mild cognitive impairment:a follow-up study / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To investigate outcome and cognitive changes of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) in a follow-up study. Methods A cross-sectional and longitudinal parallel cohort study design was conducted among 109 aMCI patients and 104 matched normal controls. Multi-dimension neuropsychologic tests were used to extensively assess the cognitive function. Results The scores of neuropsychologic tests in aMCI patients were significantly lower than those in the normal controls( all P＜0.01 ) ,with the largest impairment on 20minutes delayed recall of the auditory verbal memory test ( AVMT), which reflects episodic memory ( aMCI pa-tients :2.50 ± 1.48, normal controls :7.85 ± 1.59, Z = - 12.697, P ＜ 0.01 ); AD was diagnosed in 15 of the 69aMCI patients with a prevalence rate of 22% ,but none was converted to AD in the normal controls. The cognitivechanges of performance in AVMT, CDT, MMSE of the patients in aMCI group (( 3.77 ± 60.83 )%, (6.89 ±28.24) %, (6.13 ± 16.89) % respectively) were significantly poorer than those of the controls group(( - 10.75 ±27.46) %, ( - 5.23 ± 14.05 ) %, ( - 1.11 ± 8.26 ) % respectively) ( all P ＜ 0.05 ). At baseline, demented aMCIperformed poorer in AVMT, CFT, TMT, SDMT, CDT, MMSE when compared to stable. During the follow-up, demented aMCI groups performed significantly poorer than did stable subjects in AVMT, CFT, DST, VFT, SDMT,MMSE ( all P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusion aMCI is a prodromal period of AD and characterized by episodic memory impairment. The neuropsychologic test is a predictive factor for aMCI to develop AD.